Manchester: A terrorist attack outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester on October 2 has left two men dead and shocked the local Jewish community. The incident occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, when a man drove a car into pedestrians and then stabbed several individuals.

The victims, Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, were local residents of Crumpsall. Authorities confirmed that the attacker, 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent, was shot and killed by armed police at the scene. Initial fears that he was wearing an explosive device were later found to be unfounded.

The attack has prompted an outpouring of grief and solidarity from the community, with family liaison officers providing support to the victims’ families.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the act as a "horrific" terrorist attack and returned from an overseas trip to lead an emergency response meeting. King Charles III and Queen Camilla also expressed their sorrow and support for those affected. Security measures have been heightened at synagogues across the UK in response to the attack.

International reactions include statements from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who criticized the UK’s handling of terrorism and antisemitism and called for stronger measures against extremist threats.

Greater Manchester Police have arrested three additional individuals in connection with terrorism-related activities, including a woman in her 60s and two men in their 30s. Investigations are ongoing to determine if there are links to broader extremist networks.

The attack has left the Manchester Jewish community in mourning and highlights growing concerns over targeted acts of violence against religious communities in the UK.